December 31, 2020
Many stories dominated the news cycle in the state of Wisconsin this year. We have compiled our Top Ten MacIver News Stories of 2020 to remind you of some of the highlights.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comment section below.
#10. Black Lives Matter To Dominate MPS Curriculum Next Week (January 30, 2020)
Even before the George Floyd protests in June, Black Lives Matter was already being pushed in the Milwaukee Public School District.
#9. Citizens Fighting County Health Officer Power Grab (October 30, 2020)
Throughout the pandemic, one of the greatest concerns for many citizens has been the unprecedented amount of government overreach in our daily lives. In one Wisconsin county, constituents came together to fight their local government’s lockdown order.
#8. COVID-19 Timeline (Mar. 17, 2020)
For many of us, COVID-19 is the most disruptive and consequential event of our lives. Here is the timeline of how it unfolded in the early days of the pandemic.
#7. “Government Watchers” Will Ensure Catholic Churches in Madison Comply with Lockdown (May 29, 2020)
Dane County and the City of Madison told Catholic churches on Thursday to limit mass attendance to 50 people or face hefty fines, according to an email from the diocese obtained by the MacIver News Service.
#6. MPS Board Approves $1.2 Billion Budget, Expansion of Retirement Benefits, $15 Minimum Wage (May 29, 2020)
In the midst of a government-mandated economic shutdown, the Milwaukee Public Schools Board approved a massive tax and spending increase which included an expansion of retirement benefits and an increase in its minimum wage.
#5. “Unlawful, Invalid, and Unenforceable” – Safer At Home Struck Down (May 14, 2020)
The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Health Services Secretary Designee Andrea Palm’s Safer at Home order on Wednesday, declaring it “unlawful, invalid, and unenforceable.”
#4. Activist Mobs Terrorize Madison, Wisconsin (Jul. 5, 2020)
Statues destroyed – a state senator beaten – streets blocked – motorists dragged from their vehicles. Activist mobs roam the streets of Wisconsin’s capital city without fear of arrest.
#3. No Measurable Goals For Wisconsin’s Mask Mandate (August 24, 2020)
With the Governor’s constant admission of “following the science,” it was interesting to hear Stephanie Smiley, interim administrator of the Division of Public Health in DHS, admit the Evers administration had no measurable goal for the mask mandate in the state.
#2. Unprecedented – How DWD Failed To Protect The Victims Of Safer At Home (May 28, 2020)
It was the most obvious consequence of shutting down the state’s entire economy – hundreds of thousands of workers in Wisconsin would suddenly need to file for unemployment. Unfortunately, that seemed to be an afterthought in the excitement of rolling out Gov. Tony Evers’ lockdown order, Safer at Home.
#1 The State of Wisconsin’s Response to COVID-19 (July 28, 2020)
MacIver analyzed the state of the Evers’ administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the end of July; from social distancing to mask mandates to contact tracing.
